Amusement machine



Sept. 26, 1933. MEYER 1,927,877

AMUSEMENT MACHINE Filed Jan. 18 1952 Patented Sept. 26, 1933 UNITEDSTATES; PATENT oF 'F cE- 1,927,877 AMUSEMENT ACHINE John F. Meyer,Pasadena, Calif. Application January 1 8, 1932. Serial No. 587,295

Claims. (01. 2122-42) This invention relates to amusement machines ofthe kind delivering prizes proportioned in value to the skill of theoperator. of the machine.

The amusement machine of this invention is provided witha device underthe control of the operator which is adapted to pick up articles from atable and deliver them to a discharge chute for passage from the machineto the operator. The device picking up the articles is suspended from astructure which is movable inboth vertical and horizontal planes and aportion of the structure is under direct control of the operator whilethe remaining portions of the structure are operated in an automaticmanner upon each operation of the device and this automatic operation isbrought about by means not under the control of, the operator.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a novel structure forsupporting the device which picks up the prizes and which structure isof simple and economical construction and eificient and positiveoperation. I

Another object is to provide a structure wherein the movement of aportion of the devices under the control of the operator may be confinedwithin definite limits.

A still further object is to provide a novel structure embodying springdevices open to view so that breakage thereof may be readily detectedand wherein the movable parts will be so arranged that seizing thereofwill be prevented and so that the operation may be easily viewed so asto determine whether or not the devices are operating in a propermanner;

A selected embodiment of shown in perspective in the single figure ofthe accompanying drawing.

My invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawing, is adapted tobe used in a vending machine enclosed ina suitable cabinet (not shown)wherein there is a horizontal table 1 having an opening 2 therein and asuitable discharge chute or the like leads from this opening.

so that articles 3 lifted from the table 1 by the pick-up device 4 maybe dropped through the opening into the discharge chute to pass. fromthe machine. A discharge chute adaptable for this purpose is shown inthe co-pending. application of Victor Neumann, Serial No. 588,553,

filed January 25, 1932. Supported from the frame of the machine by abracket 5 is a bearing 6 in which a hollow shaft 7 is journaled.Extending through the hollow shaft 7 is a'shaft 8 having a worm gear 9fast on the upper end thereof. The shaft 8 is connected to a suitablesource of the invention is power such as an electric motor by which itis rotated for a predetermined lengthof time upon each operation of themachine. Fast to the shaft '7 and resting on the upper end of thebearing 6 are-brackets 10 and 11 "having a shaft 12 65 ward ends of thebrackets 10 and 11are arms 15 and 16 which are curved'so as to clear thecams on each side of the worm wheel 13 and which terminate in upwardlyextending portions arranged on each-side of theworm gear 9. The

rear ends of arms 17 and 18 .are pivotally connected to the upwardlyextending portions of the arms 15 and 16. On the lower edge of each ofthey arms 17 and 18 there is acam follower such as 19 and'these camfollowers respectively engage the cams on'opposite sides of the wormwheel 13. The arms 17" and 18 include straight portions 20 and 21 and'atthe outer ends'of these straight portions stop devices in the nature" ofcollars 22 and 23 are'fastby set screws and the like, and these collarsmay besecured at various places along the .portions 20 and 21. Inwardlyof the collars 22 and 23 are sleeves 24 and 25 which are slidable alongthese straight portions 20 and 21. Fast on. the straight portions 20 and21 so as to be adjustable therealong and preferably arranged in spacedrelation with the collars Y22 and 23 are stop devices in the nature ofcollars 26 and 27 which maybe retained in posi tion by set screws.Disposed about the straight portions 20 and 21 intermediatethe sleeves24 and 25 and the collars -26and 2'7 are springsz28 and 29 and normallythese springs are expanded to urge the sleeves 24 and.25 intoengagement, with the collars 22 and 23. Depending from the collars 26and 27 are bifurcated portions in which pulleys 30 and 31 are rotatablymounted. Other pulleys 32 and 33 are rotatably mountedon the bearing 6.At the end of the sleeve 24 disposed toward the collar 26 is an eyelet34.. One end of a cable or string 35 is secured in the eyelet 34 and ispassed over the pulley 30 and about'the pulley 32 and through anopening36 in the table 1 and about a pulley 37 rotatablymounted'in abracket 38 fast on the underside "of the" ers ,19 rest on dwells on thecams 14 andthe.

I sires.

sleeve 25 disposed toward the collar 2'7 is an eyelet 42. One end of acableor string 43 is secured to this eyelet 42 and the string is passedabout the pulley 31 and the pulley 3S and through the opening 36 andabout the pulley 3'7 and is secured to the end of the chain 39. Normallythe sleeves 24 and 25 are urged into engagement with the" collars 22 and23 by the springs 28 and 29. Asthechain 39 is .wound on the shaft 40,the strings 35 and 43' are pulled toward said shaft and therefore thesestrings act, to move the sleeves 24 and 25 along the straight. portions20 and 21 toward the stop collars 26 and 2'7. At'. the ends of thestrings 24 and 25 opposite that,

to which the eyelets 34 and 42 are fast are eyelets 44 and 45. A stringor cable 46 is fastened to the eyelet 44 and extends to an operatingmember in the pick-up device 4. A string or cable 47' is fastto theeyelet 45 and extendsto an operating member in the pick-up device 4. Acrosscable or guy 48 is fast to the eyelet 34 and to the string 46 at apoint spaced fromthe eyelet 44. Fast on :the shaft '7'is an arm'49 towhich a link 50 is pivotally connected and a button 51 is provided atthe forward end of the link '50. In use, rotation oftheshaft 8'is begunwhereupon the worm gear 9 isrotated to rotate the. worm wheel'13 wherebythe earns 14 are rotated. The operator of the machine grasps the wheel41 in one hand and the button 51 in the otherhand. When the parts are inthe at rest position shown in the drawing,.the cam followarms 17 and. 18are held in an upper position with the straight portion'20 of the arm 17in a plane slightly above the plane in which the straight portion 21 ofthe arm 18 is disposed.

This disposition of these straight portions so .ar-

ranges the cables 46 and 4'7 and the relatively pivotal parts of thepick-up device or bucket 4 that the pick-up device, is held open as isillustrated. As the cams continue to rotate, depres' sions thereonmoveinto alignment with the cam followers 19 whereupon the arms 1'7 and18' are lowered and therefore the pick-up device 4- is lowered. Prior toand during the time the pickup device 4 is being lowered, the operatorwinds and unwinds the chain 39 which causes the sleeves 24 and 25 tomoveinto different positions along the straight portions 20 and 21 wherebythe position of thepick-up device 4 transversely of the table .1 isregulated and at this time by moving the button 51 in and out the shaft'7 is rotated and thereforexthe arms '17 and 18 are moved on anarcwhereby the pick-up de- Vice- 4 ismoved longitudinally of the table 1.Bythis combined transverse and longitudinal movement of the pick-updevice'4, the operator of the machine arranges said'pick-up device at aposition over the prize he desires and when the depressions on"the camsmove into alignmentwith the cam followers to permit the arms to lower,the pick-up device moves downwardly ,into position about the prize theoperator de-' After the pick-up device moves down aroundthe articledesired by the operator, a

further depression. on the cam 14 engaged by" the camfollower 19 on thearm 1'7 moves into alignment with this cam follower and the straghtportion 20 of the arm '1'7moves into or'close to the plane of thestraight portion '21 of the arm 18. This lowers the cable 46 but sincethe cable 47 is now lowered, the portion of the bucket se-' .cured tothe cable 47 tends to remain stationary while the portion of thebucketconnected to the cable 46 is permitted to pivot relative to the otherpart, and this has the effect of closing the jaws of the bucket orpick-up device 4. As

the cam followers, immediately after the lower- "rise on the cam and inthis way additionally el'evates the straight portion 20 the jaws of thepick-up device 4 are separated since again the jaw connected'to thecable 47 tends to remain stationary whereas the .jaw connected to thecable 46 is moved away from said jaw connected to the cable 4'7 andthereforethev pick up'device opens whereupon the article retainedthereby falls through the opening 2. into theidischarg Y .chute andpasses'out of the machine. 1 l

The arms 1'7 and'18' are formed in onepiece and inasmuch as the partscarried thereby areexposed to view, proper movement of the sleeves 24and 25 along the straight portions: 20 and 21 of the arms is assured.Furthermore, the breakage of one of the springs orimproper movement ofthe sleeves along the arms'may be readily determinedj. Moreover, byproviding the ad- 'iustable stopicollars '22 and 23 and 26 and 2'7, themovement of the sleeves along the straight portions of the arms may beconfined within definite predetermined limits and in this wayadjustability of the provided. I

While I have illustrated and described ase lected embodiment. of myinvention it isto be.

understood that this is capable of variation and operation of themachine is modification and I therefore do not wish tobe limited to theprecise details set forth'but desire to avail myself of such changes andalterations as fall within the purview of the following claims.

I claim:'

- 1. In an amusement machine, a pickup device, a pair of arms, sleevesmounted on said arms for movement therealong, means; support ing saidpick-up device'from said sleeves, means for moving said sleeves alongsaid arms, and stop'devices mounted on each of said arms on oppositesides of said sleeves fo'r'limiting' movement of said sleeves along saidarms. 7

2. man amusement machine, apick-up device, a pair of'arms, sleevesmounted onsaid arms for movement therealong, flexible means supportingsaid-pick-up device from said sleeves,

yieldable means on said arms and urging said sleeves in one direction,means for moving said sleeves along said arms against the action of saidyieldable means, and stop devices' mounted on each of said arms onopposite sides of said sleeves for limiting movement of said sleevesalong said arms.

3. 'In an amusement machine, a pick-up device, a pair of arms, sleevesmounted 1 on'said arms for movement therealong, means support-'- ingsaidpick-up device from said sleeves, adjustable stop devices-rnountedon each of said arms on opposite sides of said sleeves for limiting movement of said sleeves along said arms, a spring' disposed about eachof'said arms between one.- end of each sleeve and one of the stopdevices and urging the sleeves in one direction, and means for movngsaid sleeves along said arms against the action of said springs.

,4. In an amusement machine, a pick-up device, a pair of arms, sleevesmounted on said arms and movable therealong means supporting saidpick-up device from said sleeves, adjustable stop devices mounted oneach of said arms on opposite sides of said sleeves for limitingmovement of said sleeves along said arms, a spring disposed about eachof said arms between one end of each sleeve and one of the stop devicesand urging the sleeves in one direction, guide means on said one of saidstop devices, and means connected to said sleeves and directed aboutsaid guide means for moving said sleeves along said arms against theaction of said springs. U I v 5. In an amusement machine, a pick-updevice, a pair of arms, means for supporting said arms for movementabout a center, means for raising and lowering said arms, sleevesmounted on said arms ior movement therealong, means supporting saidpick-up device from said sleeves, stop devices on each of said arms onopposite sides of said sleeves for limiting movement of said sleevesalong said arms, means for moving said sleeves along said arms, andmeans formoving said arms about saidcenter.

JOHN F.. MEYER.

